How to Tighten Bike Brake Cables

Over time, brake cables can get damaged or stretched to the point that you can't easily adjust the brake pulls to get the braking you want on your bike. If that happens, you need to adjust the cables before you can adjust your bike brakes.
Here's how.
More info at www.holliseaster.com/
How to adjust the brakes: www.holliseaster.com/p/adjust-...
Video of brake adjustment: • How to Adjust Your Bik...

[@DanielSOlmstead]

I actually really appreciate that this didn't work out perfectly smooth in the video because it rarely works perfectly in real life for those of us who are doing this for the first time and it was good to see what to do when it doesn't come out quite right. Thanks for sharing this!

[@adkpiper]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Daniel!

[@glennbogardus9140]

I was going to comment the same thing but you beat me to it. This video is great because it shows exactly how to compensate and fiddle with it when you don't get it right the first time.

[@cassiaa3142]

thanks so much bro! you saved me from going to the shop. i was stressing out over here trying to put my new bike together

[@garthapthomas8594]

This was excellent. Covered exactly what I needed to do and my bike is now fixed thanks to this video

[@noctoi]

Thank you! So much easier to learn when you can see it done first.

[@TMan29]

Wow, thank you. Sooo simple video and made me undertand the brake cables better. Thanks you so much, can't wait to try this. Update: The Idea worked. I have disc brakes so I did the steps as shown and loosened the knob near the cable like thr one near thr brake and tightened thr cable and boom. Thank you 💕

[@jamescc2010]

Nice tip. No brake cable puller tool needed to purchase - just do it by hand and squeeze in by hand with a simple tool. I have disc brake so I had to adjust one bolt on the right of the brake. Easy fix after watching some videos here and save 20-30 bucks going to a bike shop here. Thanks for saving money and time. Easy fix to adjust my brake lever and disc brake performance.

[@DZNTZ]

Thank you! Brakes have always been a bit of a mystery to me when it came to adjustment and dialing them in. I just assembled a bike and the brake lever had way too much travel before full lock and the barrel adjusters weren’t making enough of a difference… A few minutes here and now I know how to fix it! Thanks so much 🙏

[@adkpiper]

You're so welcome!

[@muddydog6605]

Thankyou so much, for years brakes have been my kryptonite, staring at manuals for hours has never worked and I've ended up riding around with barely any brakes. Very easy to understand especially how to keep adjusting and readjusting them until you get it right. Brilliant.

[@adkpiper]

I'm so glad it helped you! Thanks so much for the truly lovely comment.

[@roipogi10]

wow thanks alot for this vid saved me couple of bucks on bike repair shop im newbie btw

[@francoisona]

Worked like a charm. Thanks

[@keales9564]

Thank you! Great video, very informative, easy to understand. I could easily pertain this to my disc brake cable.

[@1krazyking]

Thanks man, i was painting my rim and disarmed the breaks and i left it like that for a couple days. Im not sure if the cable shrunk but somehow it was too short! Then i think looking back my front break wasnt working as better than the back break which works better. Now i fix the front one thats just as new! Thanks man appreciate this video even if its a couple years old man. Very neat and easy explanation. I tried to do it myself just by skimming through rather for like 14 minutes i listen to it twice thinking i could do it haha. Some primal alpha mentality, but after sitting down actually admitting that i should watch this video helped me in under 3 minutes. Thanks lol.

[@adkpiper]

You're welcome!

[@AML-qi5tz]

That was informative. I have a similar issue at the moment with a front brake on a Fixie bike. The break pads are a little too far apart so when I brake they don't squeeze the wheel as tightly as they should. I've been trying to find a video on how to sort that issue for ages.

[@EM-ml8jq]

Outstanding, I was on the right track to adjust it but overlooked tthe lock washer on the handllrle bar. Thx

[@lovethebeach21]

Thanks for sharing, really helped me to fix my bike!

[@jw2par]

Excellent instructions! Great teacher

[@JohnCooper1]

Thank you. The only video I found showing the how to tighten the cable by moving the caliper forward.

[@isiahemaguna7154]

Thanks for the video. Great deal of help!!!

[@stephen4373]

Just the video I need 😊

[@user-yp5gl3qn2q]

Found this very helpful, Thanks.

[@davidhay3380]

Cheers,saved me time and money👍

[@jaydenjames3307]

Thanks this video helped so much

[@xavierdesira1572]

Thanks so much it helped a lot this means a lot to me thanks for the video:)

[@umairidrees7291]

Great video! Thanks for that mate. And it was helpful that you showed us it needs to be done a few times to get it perfect. Kind Regards Umair

[@infiniteinfinity18]

This dude's a king

[@brianwallace4024]

Perfect!

[@entity6150]

Very well explained thankyou :)

[@Valorantgmg]

Thank u so much for helping me i watch your vids!

[@T2a585]

I just got this done at a bike repair shop and the bike feels much faster now, why would that be? also how much should this cost, I want to know if I got ripped off?

[@antidepressant11]

Good teacher sir thanks

[@TheCookieTheMonster]

Is there a way to actually pull more cable through, or is the cable a set length? When I push the caliper in it just gives less room for it to clamp and stops on the side for me

[@cristianademarfernandez6204]

Thanks for a good video!

[@kleightenkillam9553]

Thank you good video finally fixed my bmx

[@kasjnkshdb60]

What do I do if the cable is too short ?

[@botbuzz3020]

Actually my brake wire end cap got snapped/detached from the brake levers how to fix that brother. I hope you reply 🙏

[@soberlol]

Thank u so much mate!

[@infantfabian4888]

what is tool name that u used

[@evyberm801]

Thank you so much! My Walmart bike thanks you as well!

[@Jo-hs1ix]

thank you!!!!!!

[@akhilapodupuganti4089]

How do we do this for rare break ?

[@lofee372]

my cable loose pls help me i cant brake the front brake

[@j4r3d18]

everytime i squeeze my brake it doesnt tighten back....

[@wiffle_ball_tony7142]

Were you able to find a solution?

[@wholegrain27]

Bet it is/was the cable binding or weak return spring.

[@bryson5180]

could be grease/stickiness in the spring housing (clean with lube), spring is held in a low tension slot (place spring end in different hole, or adjust screw for tension), or the brake cable doesn't have enough slack

[@hicksylifts]

I don’t know why but it seems to be for me the lever is either locked on or way to loose no in between and the cable running up the frame from back wheel is so loose no matter what I do

[@radenakbar]

I love that this tutorial has trials and errors in it and not a perfect calibrated one try success, since I usually feel frustrated that I may not be competent enough to do such a thing

[@adkpiper]

Thanks for naming that. It's something that feels important to me too--I think seeing people cope with errors is more effective for helping learners believe that they could actually give it a try and be successful.

[@dennismorgan2303]

right, but what if one side pulls more than the other

[@Twizzlada1]

Thank you!

[@Katwoman4318]

Thank you 😊

[@averxgeclxps]

Thank you

[@AJCoReTV]

Thx

[@katiesandilands4166]

What if my lock nut is turning with the actual screw peice inside? Do I need to get new breaks basically

[@adkpiper]

That's a little hard for me to visualize, but it does sound like you might have a broken part. Is there a local bike shop near you?

[@phillpill9197]

my nob holding the cable won’t undo and i’m scared to twist it too hard and break it

[@98chicagobears]

can i also do the rear brake cable the same way.

[@adkpiper]

Yup!

[@romanzadorozhnyy2087]

How do you do this with disk brakes

[@jamescc2010]

By hand just loosen brake cable screw out at handle bar next to the lever, and at disc brake screw, pull/squeeze the brake arm in and tighten the screw at the cable (might do this 1-2 times to get the lever & disc brake adjustment right to your liking). I just did mine on disc brake after the lever distance (not engaged) is too far and not braking. Only took 1-2 mins. Also I had to adjust brake caliper screw on the right in a little to tighten up my right brake lever. Worked perfect. I have just posted a new video on my channel so check it out later. Save some money, time, and trip to a local bike shop. Now we can do it ourselves.

[@jasonsteger1571]

What about back breaks

[@Cholo5730]

My pads start to move at the moment I squeeze the brake (handle). Nevertheless, the cable can inexplicably "escape" its housing on the top bar when the brake (handle) releases. Does someone have a suggestion for "curing" this?

[@adkpiper]

I'm not sure I understand about what's escaping. Can you say more?

[@Cholo5730]

@@adkpiper After looking again at the cable, I noticed that it's small "boot covering" was gone - so I suspect that a new cable is in order. (The brake cable and both shifter cables are attached to the top bar by means of a small braised-on peace with channels for the cables.)

[@adkpiper]

Seems like a good bet! I'd love to hear whether that fixes it for you!

[@Cholo5730]

@@adkpiper Well, I found some heat shrink polyolefin tubes (the 3/16th size), cut one of them to match the length of an existing shifter cable boot, cut an opening the length of the tube, finagled it into its channel, and so far it has worked (it didn't fall off during my morning ride.)

[@adkpiper]

That's a clever fix. Well done!

[@ivan3708]

I pull the cable all the way through and the brake is still loose. what's wrong now?

[@speshalkmf9273]

post a vid of it

[@gogod7684]

thanks man

[@baultourist2966]

Watching from INDIA

[@pokiblue5870]

my brake still very loose and touch all the way down the handle bar....i see the brakes moving near the tire but it doesnt reach the rim...tried to tight cables but still loose and doesnt break on the street...

[@adkpiper]

Sorry to hear it! You might need to adjust the cable clamps or replace the cable.

[@pokiblue5870]

@@adkpiper i did tight the cable very tight, it now breaks easily and i dont have to put lots of pressure to break. But now i have a new problem…it feels like when i ride im slower and its harder to cycle because my breaks are too tight. I tried to adjust so its less tight but then it no longer breaks…then again if i tight more the cable then i hear sounds near the break and when i ride its harder because my breaks touch the rim…

[@adkpiper]

I'm sorry to hear it! I wonder if the calipers are sticking or something. This seems beyond the scope of what I can diagnose over the internet; may I recommend taking it to a bike mechanic?

[@pgreenx]

I never know which way to adjust those barrels

[@speshalkmf9273]

thanks

[@Loveoldies50]

I'm a disabled senior. I have these brakes on my Rollator. I've NEVER done brakes before. The wires are falling out of the handles. How much should I expect to pay to have them fixed? I don't want my rollator rolling away from me when I stop somewhere to sit. I assume a bike shop can do any brakes of this style.

[@chickenleg123]

I don't have any experience on vehicles of any sort other than bicycles, but solely based on your explanation, IF the bike shop does know what to do, they probably either have to just realign the cable in or replace it, which I would assume may cost $5-25. Though, I cannot confirm that. The best course of action in my opinion would be taking it over to a bike shop, even if it costs to fix more than what you would like, and see what they can do to help, especially since they are your brakes

[@worldwideisaac4854]

what do i do if pulling the wire all the way out and twisting the top don’t work

[@adkpiper]

I would check the calipers and the levers, and assuming they're all okay and not frozen, I would replace the cable. Or take it to a bike shop!

[@worldwideisaac4854]

@@adkpiper alright thanks

[@Ingy400]

having done this hundreds of times I could tell you over adjusted them

[@adkpiper]

I'm curious what you mean.

[@brettjc0483]

Yay now I can drift stop again

[@ryshy02o44]

Lol

[@buzby303]

6:00 Sometimes when the wheel is rubbing the brakes need realigning too. 😉

[@TheInvisibleOne1026]

And ur back to were u started, lol

[@Game0verFool]

There is not a single permutation of settings that will fix the spongey brakes on my girlfriend's Somerby eBike. I have spent all day trying every possible configuration and yet somehow the brakes are now worse than when I started. How that is possible I will never know. Even when the pads are set firm against the rim the brake lever will travel all the way to the handlebar with ease. Fuck me.

[@carlosguzman7437]

Cool vid,if at first you dont succeed then try again.

[@adkpiper]

Yeah, I figured that it's more useful to show the realistic version where you sometimes have to do things multiple times, rather than just showing the sanitized version.

[@OmkarMendgudle]

4:23 1:20

[@johnbambrough3189]

Your talking so calm and politely but inside your fucking raging that your instruction video hasn't gone to plan 😂 you do know there are more ways to adjust V brakes don't you?! 😂😂

[@PALPABLEemotions]

Lol you sound like 'thelockpicking lawer'

[@suckzinclee]

Very informative. Props!

[@RazvanMarc]

To me it seems you have the same travel as when you started

[@adkpiper]

Possible... They feel different though. Maybe it's an artifact of the camera angle?

[@ahmedsalem7228]

My bike brakes broke because my bike is so so so old ⚠️if your bike is so so so old do not try it ⚠️

[@Bapuram330]

Bapero mura

[@Haachamahusband]

This video suffers from the same things all others did before it. Doesn't get to the point Talks when not needed Doesn't actually solve the problem Labels video as one thing but goes over 5 other things most people aren't looking for

[@adkpiper]

Thanks for giving me a good laugh on a Friday night!

[@djnaqvi]

Poor camera angle makes it a useless video

[@adkpiper]

I'm sorry you were so disappointed in this free resource.

[@djnaqvi]

@@adkpiper free??? It costed me time...

[@adkpiper]

As did replying, twice. I hope you feel that you got good value for your time.

[@djnaqvi]

@@adkpiper yes, attempting to correct or guide a mind blocked with sarcasm n stupidity is a worth value for spent time.

[@othmaneramel8626]

Thank you

[@adkpiper]

You're very welcome! Glad I could help.

[@frostedpoppievlogs6247]

Thx

[@izzystevenson1616]

Frosted Poppie vlogs, hi can you please tell me why my son,s brake handle, the cable doe not tighten

[@adkpiper]

Sounds like he might have a broken cable or else the retaining plug at the end may have slipped out of the brake pull.